Cybernaut

A game parents will love?

I didn’t buy a Sony PS3 for a few reasons, the number one
reason being games. Xbox 360 had the best titles as far as I was concerned, and
since I made that decision I’ve been rewarded again and again as a few formerly
Playstation exclusives were opened up to the Xbox 360 for the simple reason
that the game companies want to reach as many customers as possible with each
release. I’ve always conceded that the PS3 is probably the superior machine,
coming with a Blu-ray player, Internet browser and free online gaming, but
hardware means nothing without the software to back it up.

While I stick by my decision, I’m a little sad that I won’t be
able to play Little Big Planet, available on Oct. 21.

On the surface, this is just a cute kids game, albeit with
incredible graphics, where you move your custom SackBoy or SackGirl through a
make-believe world of cardboard and wood structures. It combines adventure,
puzzle solving, group co-operation (when in multiplayer), and the games are as
varied as human imagination.

The best part is that you can design and share whole levels
yourself — early beta users have designed levels that mimic Super Mario,
Age of the Colossus, Halo, and other games. Beta testers are showcasing new
levels on YouTube all the time, with dozens of new levels posted in the last
week.

My impressions watching these levels, as well as a video on how
levels are designed, is that parents will love this game. There’s no blood and
gore, no bad language, it encourages puzzle solving and teamwork, and, when you
design levels yourself it channels creativity and encourages some appreciation
of both art and physics. Making a level is like opening a box of Lego and
throwing out the instructions, or buying a puzzle and putting it together
without looking at the box.

Playing levels developed by others also means there should be
an endless number of new challenges out there after you finish the storyline
— something that should more than justify the $60 sticker price.

The fact that Sony is publishing the title pretty much rules
out any chance that there might be a port for the Xbox 360, but a PC port may
be possible in the future. I’ll take whatever I can get!

iPhone/iPod Touch a gaming machine?

Last week Nintendo announced the release of a new portable DS,
the DSi — a follow-up to the all time best-selling game system on the
market by a large margin with more than 50 million units sold around the world.
Sony is also getting ready to drop their PSP 3000, or the third-generation of
their way less popular but far more powerful handheld game system.